Hartman Center
Hartman Center is nestled in the 7 Mountains area of Central Pennsylvania between Lewistown and State College- Milroy, to be exact. It served our our Church Camp for Penn Central Conference churches for many decades. It has since been sold, however a week of camp at the location is once again being planned for 2023 and camping opportunities are available for youth and adults through our partnerships with our Lutheran sisters and brothers at 3 locations in central PA. Summer camping information usually arrives in February / March.
The Hartman Center features acres of woods, fields and outdoor recreation areas including a pond and pool. It also has a lodge, dining hall, meeting space and a chapel. There are program buildings including a Nature Nook, and a core of cabins with conveniences and platform tents, which grace the grounds. The initial building, referred to as The Stone House, also is used for group camping and retreat rentals. It was the original farm house of the Hartman family, thus the name Hartman Center. It often is referred to as “The Sunshine Place,” a place where The Son is always shining.
Although not always under the auspices of the UCC, the camp has been in existence for more than 85 years. New buildings have been added and older buildings adapted, but the camping spirit remains and has been shared through time intergenerationally. The beauty and peace of the camp is infectious. Visitors, campers, summer service team (SST’s), staff and volunteer camp directors infuse the grounds of God’s Creation. It is as Brian Sirchio’s song suggests, a “marked place”.